Josh Huestis’ fourth-year option not picked up by Thunder

The OKC Thunder made an interesting move Tuesday night – they declined Josh Huestis’ team option for next season.

October 31st marks the deadline for teams to pick-up/decline options for their third-year first round picks. The Thunder had one of those players this season: the enigma himself, Josh Huestis.

Huestis played sparingly in his first two seasons, but he started to blossom this training camp. Although he struggled with his shot early on in the season his impressive defensive play made it seem inevitable that he would be on the team next season. That isn’t necessarily the case though:

It’s interesting that Sam Presti ultimately decided Huestis’ $2.2 million option isn’t worth the bill moving forward. Even if the Thunder don’t see him as a consistent rotation player his contract is relatively cheap for a team that’s due to pay a hefty luxury tax bill next season. And it’s not like Huestis is a negative when he steps on the court.

The 25-year old plays his role well. He isn’t fluid on the offensive end, but he hits his shots in open catch-and-shoot opportunities. Huestis can both handle guards on the perimeter and protect the rim too. The Thunder have spent four years developing him into the player he is now – giving him away one season early is perplexing.

Here’s the only possible explanations I can think of/have been brought up to me:

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Huestis asked the Thunder not to pick it up so he can chase bigger opportunities. He hasn’t done much in his NBA career to garner that thinking though, which leads me to option #2.

Oklahoma City realizes Huestis isn’t fluid enough to ever play in the NBA. When you watch him on offense he goes through his reads like a robot. That’s not something you can teach a 25 year old – if he doesn’t get it now he never will.

Huestis has NBA skills, but the NBA game is more than just shooting and blocking shots. There’s the off-ball offensive movement, reading the offensive sets before they happen. Huestis struggles with those areas mightily even though he’s been in the Thunder organization for four years.

Hopefully Josh Huestis uses this as motivation this season. The Thunder can use his skillset in the regular season against lesser-talented teams, giving Carmelo Anthony and Paul George a few more breaks to rest. More importantly for Huestis, he can turn those opportunities into another NBA contract.